compressed air system consists and System Design and Equipment Selection for mushroom cultication factory

Compressed Air System Consists of and System Design and Equipment Selection

1—Air compressor; 2—Refrigerated dryer; 3—Adsorption dryer;
4—Buffer air tank; 5—Filter; 6—Shut-off valve; 7—Product air storage tank;
8—Aftercooler

1. A basic compressed air system consists of air supply equipment, air treatment equipment, and distribution piping.

(1) Air supply equipment refers to various types of air compressors, which serve as the devices that generate compressed air.
(2) Air treatment equipment refers to the collective term for devices that dry, purify, and regulate the pressure of the compressed air produced by the air supply equipment, ensuring the air quality meets the requirements of the end-use points. These devices have diverse functions and characteristics, requiring flexible configuration based on specific air usage needs. Common examples include dryers, filters, storage/buffer tanks, oil-water/gas-water separators, air treatment components, pressure regulators (valves), and condensate drains/valves.

(3) Distribution piping refers to the compressed air pipelines along with the necessary valves and instruments.
For industrial enterprises, a more comprehensive compressed air system is a cluster of subsystems integrated from various components; it encompasses air compressors, purification equipment, control devices, piping systems, pneumatic tools, pneumatic power machinery, and the specific processes that utilize compressed air.

2.System Design and Equipment Selection
When a user specifies their compressed air requirements, a selection solution must be proposed by comprehensively considering factors such as user needs, process flows, investment scale, and site conditions.

1. Determination of the Air Supply Scheme
Based on factors such as project scale, the distribution of air consumption points, supply pressure levels, and air quality requirements—while also considering cost-effectiveness—the following air supply schemes are commonly adopted:

(1) Centralized Air Supply Scheme
This involves establishing a dedicated compressed air station (or room). This scheme is primarily used for small-to-medium-sized factories and large factories where air consumption points are concentrated. Certain types of air compressors are suitable only for this method of air supply.

(2) Regional Compressed Air Stations
This supply scheme is often adopted for large-scale projects with high compressed air consumption and widely dispersed major users; it minimizes pipeline pressure loss and ensures reliable supply to critical consumption points. Regional stations are interconnected via piping to enable load balancing and mutual backup capabilities.

(3) Point-of-Use (Local) Supply Scheme
When the factory's total air consumption is low and consumption points are few and dispersed, installing small units locally near the points of use may be considered.

(4) Combined Centralized and Decentralized Scheme
This scheme is suitable for large or medium-sized factories where major consumption points are concentrated while secondary points are dispersed—particularly in scenarios where air demand is low during night shifts.

(5) Tiered (Multi-Pressure) Supply Scheme
When a factory requires compressed air at different pressure levels—and demand is significant for both high and low-pressure air—a multi-pressure supply system utilizing compressors of corresponding pressure ratings should be considered. This approach avoids the energy waste associated with pressure reduction (throttling) for end-use. Ideally, the system should be limited to no more than two pressure levels.

(6) Centralized Supply with Local Augmentation Scheme
When specific consumption points require higher-quality compressed air, high-quality air sources (such as totally oil-free compressors) or advanced post-treatment equipment can be installed locally to meet those specific needs.

The specific scheme to be adopted should be determined through a comprehensive comparison, taking into account factors such as air consumption volume and the location of consumption points. In summary, selecting a supply scheme requires a holistic approach that considers initial investment and production process management; for users planning to expand production—thereby increasing air demand or the number of consumption points—it is particularly important to integrate the new requirements with the existing compressed air supply system layout.